To Autumn

To Autumn

1. context and poets intentions

   • 1795 - 1821
   • one of greatest romantic poets
   • father died young mother married again, second marriage ws unhappy
     • mother died at age 15
       • little brother died in 1818
         • Keates developed TB as well and died with his partner by his side
   • he began to study medacine then dropped out to become a poet
   • to autumn is a celebration of nature. He makes it seem bountiful and generous. its written in sensual language which helps us imagine the imagery
     • it has undertones of death

2. subjects and themes

   • nature
     • initially its tone is bright and positive conveyed by a sense of richness
     • he uses very sensual imagery
   • sleep and intoxication
     • opium - medical remedy drug. also used as recreational by some poets
   • transformation
     • 'full grown lambs'
       • suggests time changes everything
     • bees also show this as they change nactar to honey
       • changing seasons may represent human lives.
         • seasons are linked to inevitable maturity
   • time
     • drives transformation and change. each stanza shows this too
   • death
     • suggested by 'last oozings of cyder-press'
       • and 'wailful choir'
         • wailing is often associated with death
     • theme of reaping and the 'reaping hook' also reminds us of the Grim Reaper

3. key images

   • autumn environment
     • 'a season of mists and mellow fruitfulness'
       • mellow scene, conveying a rural ideal
   • autumn is also personified
     • 'Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun'
       • the sun seems to be older and wiser.
   • autumn representative of twilight stage in life
     • 'last oozings' = final drops of life
   • sunset marks the end of the day and the 'stubble field' shows death(/ the harvest) has been completed
   • musical ensemble allows us to think the 'gethering swallows' are going to depart and migrate.
     • this can again be linked to death or the ending of autumn

4. structure and form

   • regular structure - 11 lines per verse
     • sometimes be called an 'ode'
     • this regular structure reflects passing of time and seasons always changing due to orderly sequence
   • rhyme scheme, first four lines of each stanza ABAB,
     • then the rhyme scheme is different in each verse. this could reflect the different qualities of each season
     • iambic pentameter

5. literary techniques

   • personificaton
     • autumn
       • direct adress and add context
         • implied femininity makes autumn seem nurturing
   • similie
     • compares autumn to someone picking up the final crops.
   • alliteration
     • 'winnowing wind'
       • repeated w sound reflects sound of gentle wind
     • 'mists' and 'mellow'
       • creates a thick and hazy image
     • 'songs of spring'
       • songs and spring are both very positive
   • auditory language
     • 'songs' 'music' 'choir' 'sing' 'twitter' and 'whistle'
       • the musical words alongside the rhythmn and rhyme give it a gentle musical quality which relates to the mellow mood of autumn
         • it helps show autumn is a beautiful season which deserves as much appreciation as summer